Compression sequenced thermal therapy system

ABSTRACT

A sequential compression and temperature therapy blanket with a plurality of air chambers is disclosed. The air chambers are filled and released by a valve assembly that may be separate from or integrated within the blanket. The temperature therapy blanket includes a fluid bladder for delivering hot and/or cold therapy to a patient. The temperature therapy blanket may also include an air bladder for providing compression.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/256,504, filed Apr. 18, 2014. U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/256,504 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/730,060, filed Mar. 23, 2010. U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/730,060 is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/894,369, filed Jul. 19, 2004. U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/894,369 claims the benefit of, and incorporates by reference for anypurpose the entire disclosure of, U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNos. 60/488,709 filed Jul. 18, 2003; 60/550,658, filed Mar. 5, 2004; and60/588,453, filed Jul. 16, 2004. This application incorporates byreference the entire disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,097,829; 5,989,285as well as U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/730,060; 10/894,369;60/488,709; and 9/328,183, filed Jun. 8, 1998.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to thermal therapy systems in general,including therapeutic cooling, heating, and compression systems used inassociation therewith, and more particularly, but not by way oflimitation, to a programmable, sequential compression system adapted forhigh thermal contrast modality, and incorporating multiple,independently controllable chambers in a thermal therapy blanket.

2. Description of the Related Art

Medical care providers have long recognized the need to provide warmthand cooling directly to patients as part of their treatment and therapy.Better recoveries have been reported using cold therapy for orthopedicpatients. The benefits of warming patients undergoing surgery has beenconclusively proven. It is also desirable to cool portions of apatient's anatomy in certain circumstances. Yet another advantageoustherapy is the application of heat then cold to certain areas of injury.

Several devices have been developed that deliver temperature controlledfluids through pads or convective thermal blankets to achieve the abovepurpose. Typically these devices have a heating or a cooling element, asource for the fluid, a pump for forcing the fluid through the pad orblanket, and a thermal interface between the patient and the temperaturecontrolled fluid. U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,304 to Elkins is directed to amattress cover device which contains liquid flow channels which providethe selective heating or cooling by conduction.

Devices have also been developed for providing heat to a person in bed.Electric blankets containing electric heating elements have been usedfor years to warm a person in bed.

Cooling blankets, such as the blanket disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,660,388 to Greene, have also been proposed. Greene discloses a coolingcover having an inflatable pad with plenum chambers at opposite endsthereof. Cool air is generated in a separate unit and directed to thepad and out a number of apertures on the underside of the pad andagainst the body of the person using the cover.

A disposable heating or cooling blanket is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,125,238 to Ragan, et al which has three layers of flexible sheeting.Two of the layers form an air chamber and the third includes acomfortable layer for contact with the patient. Conditioned air isdirected toward the covered person through a multiplicity of orifices inthe bottom layers of the blanket.

A temperature controlled blanket and bedding assembly is disclosed incommonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,285 to DeVilbiss et al., thedisclosure of which describes a temperature controlled blanket andtemperature control bedding system which has the provision of bothrecirculating temperature controlled fluid and temperature controlledgas to enhance performance for convectively heating or cooling apatient. Counter-flow or co-flow heat exchanging principles between thetemperature controlled liquid and the temperature controlled gas achievetemperature uniformity across different sections of the blanket and thebedding system. Drapes and the temperature controlled bedding systemprovided temperature controlled envelope around a person using thebedding system. In one embodiment of the bedding system, the air portionof the bedding system is provided for use with a patient that suppliesthe fluid portion of the overall bedding system. In another embodimentof the bedding system, the fluid portion of the bedding system isprovided for use with a patient bed which supplies the air portion ofthe overall bedding system.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,829 to Quisenberry describes an improved temperaturecontrolled fluid circulating system for automatically cooling atemperature controlled fluid in a thermal blanket with a thermoelectriccooling device having a cold side and a hot side when powered byelectricity. The temperature controlled fluid is cooled by the cold sideof the cooling device and pumped through, to, and from the blanketthrough first and second conduits.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a sequential compression blanket foruse with heating or cooling therapy. In one aspect, an embodiment of theblanket comprises a plurality of air chambers and a valve assembly. Thevalve assembly controls the flow of air to each air chamber in order toprovide sequential, pulsing, or constant compression to the patient.

In another aspect, one embodiment of the invention includes acompression therapy blanket comprising a plurality of gas, such as air,chambers for receiving a gas to cause compressions, a valve assembly,internal to the compression therapy blanket, for delivering gas to eachof the plurality of air chambers in a predetermined pattern, an inletport for delivering air from a control unit to the valve assemblies, anda plurality of connection for delivering gas from the valve assembly tothe plurality of gas/air chambers. The plurality of gas/air chambers maycomprise four to seven chambers and an electrical signal connection maybe provided for transmitting data related to the predetermined patternto the valve assembly. One embodiment includes the predetermined patterncomprises sequential inflation of the plurality of chambers to produceseries of compression movements peripherally toward the heart of apatient, while another embodiment includes inflating two of theplurality of gas/air chambers simultaneously.

In yet another aspect, the above described compression therapy blanketfurther comprises a heat transfer fluid bladder for providingtemperature therapy to a portion of a patient. The bladder includes afluid inlet port for delivering heat transfer fluid from the controlunit to the heat transfer fluid bladder and a fluid outlet port fordelivering heat transfer fluid from the heat transfer fluid bladder tothe control unit. The heat transfer fluid bladder delivers thermaltherapy to a patient in the form of heat or cold or alternating heat andcold.

In yet another aspect, one embodiment of the invention includes atemperature therapy blanket comprising, a fluid bladder for housing heattransfer fluid, the fluid bladder having a top layer and a bottom layer,a plurality of connections for dispersing the heat transfer fluidthroughout the blanket, the plurality of connections connecting the toplayer to the bottom layer of the fluid bladder, at least one partitionfor directing the flow of the heat transfer fluid through the bladder;and means for providing sequenced flows of alternating heat and cold ina high thermal contrast modality to a patient.

In another embodiment of the invention, the above-described temperaturetherapy blanket further comprises an air bladder disposed outwardly ofthe fluid bladder in an overlapping relationship therewith for providingselect compression therapy, the air bladder having an upper layer and alower layer and an inlet port for providing air from the control unit tothe air bladder.

Yet a further aspect includes one embodiment of the invention comprisinga system for passing heat transfer fluid between a control unit and ablanket. The system comprises a reservoir for housing heat transferfluid for utilization by the system, a flow network in flowcommunication with the reservoir and including a junction having atleast three branches, wherein a first branch receives heat transferfluid from the reservoir, a second branch receives the heat transferfluid returning from the blanket, and a third branch for delivering theheat transfer fluid to the blanket, and a pump for creating a lowpressure site at the third branch, wherein the low pressure site causesthe heat transfer fluid from the second branch to be pulled into thethird branch. In one embodiment of the invention, the three-pointjunction is generally configured as an inverted Y from a fluid flowstandpoint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the presentinvention may be obtained by reference to the following DetailedDescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the patient therapy system according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the flow of heat transfer fluidaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control circuitry according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-4C are block diagrams of thermoelectric device assembliesaccording to embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A-5B are illustrations of a cross-sectional view of the blanketportion of the patient therapy system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5C is an illustration of a bottom view of the blanket in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5D is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of the blanket ofFIG. 5C in an inverted position relative to FIG. 5C;

FIG. 6A is an illustration of the valve assembly and sequentialcompression blanket in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6B is an illustration of the valve assembly and sequentialcompression blanket in accordance with an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6C is an illustration of the valve assembly of FIG. 6A according toan alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6D is an illustration of the valve assembly of FIG. 6B according toan alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A-7I are illustrations of several exemplary embodiments of thepatient therapy system of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a method of creating and packaging a heattransfer fluid utilized according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a patient therapy system 2 accordingto the principles of the present invention. The patient therapy system 2comprises a control unit 4, a blanket 8, and a connector 10. The blanket8 further comprises an emergency relief valve 9. In operation, a heattransfer fluid is deposited in the control unit 4 via an aperture 14.The heat transfer fluid is cooled or heated by the control unit 4 andpumped to the blanket 8 by connector tubes 6. The heat transfer fluidflows into the blanket 8 through an inlet port, and exits through anoutlet port to the control unit 4 via the connector 10 and connectortubes 6. Similarly, a gas may be pumped by the control unit 4 to theblanket 8 through the connector tubes 6 and the connector 10 to providecompression therapy. In addition, additional connector tubes 6 may bepresent to allow for both heat transfer fluid and gas to be passed tothe blanket for simultaneous temperature therapy and compressiontherapy.

The control unit 4 receives data and manipulates any one of a pluralityof therapeutic characteristics of the blanket 8 based on the data. Theblanket 8 is adapted for the administration of hot, cold, and/orcompression therapies to a body portion of the patient. For example, theblanket 8 may extend from the fingertips to the shoulder, the toes tothe hip, or various other configurations. Current thermal designrequirements for temperature therapy in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention are as follows: 1) the system must be able toheat the fluid from around 49° F. to around 105° F. with the largestblanket attached to a typical man at an ambient of 77° F. within 10minutes, 2) the system must be able to cool the fluid from 105° F. to49° F. with the largest blanket attached to a typical man at an ambientof 77° F. within 20 minutes, and 3) the system must cool the fluid to37° F. at an ambient of 77° F. within 90 minutes. These requirementsshould be with a minimum compression of 25 mm Hg. In addition, accordingto some embodiments, the blanket 8 may diffuse oxygen into the portionof the body. The connector 10 provides a fluid and/or gas connectionbetween the control unit 4 and the blanket 8 for the transfer of gas andheat transfer fluid. The connector 10 may also allow for transfer ofelectrical sensor signals and/or data signals between the blanket 8 andthe control unit 4. The emergency relief valve 9 is utilized to quicklydecompress the blanket 8 if needed.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of one embodiment of the flowof heat transfer fluid between the control unit 4 and the blanket 8 isillustrated. The control unit 4 includes a heat transfer fluid reservoir200 and at least one heat transfer assembly (HTA) 202 for heating and/orcooling the heat transfer fluid. Before the blanket 8 is utilized fortemperature therapy, the system is primed with the heat transfer fluid.When the system is primed, substantially no air exists in the tubes 204between the reservoir 200, HTA 202, and blanket 8. The flow tubes in thecontrol unit 4 between the reservoir 200, HTA 202, and blanket 8 form athree-point junction 204C. In the preferred embodiment, the three-pointjunction 204C is formed as an inverted Y, however, other shapes andorientations are possible. By utilizing a three-point junction 204C, theheat transfer fluid returning from the blanket 8 is recirculated to theHTA 202 without utilizing heat transfer fluid from the reservoir 200.The three-point junction 204C allows the HTA 202 to heat or cool theheat transfer fluid that has already been heated or cooled prior toentering the blanket 8. In the preferred embodiment, the HTA 202 doesnot heat or cool the entire contents of the reservoir 200, but merelythe portion of the heat transfer fluid that is currently circulatingthrough the blanket 8 and tubing 204. In essence, the reservoir isgenerally “by-passed” unless more fluid volume is needed. In thethree-point junction 204C, heat transfer fluid returning from theblanket 8 may be pulled, via a pump, to the HTA 202. If more heattransfer fluid than that which is already circulating through the systemis required, then the heat transfer fluid from the reservoir isintroduced into the system.

Referring now to FIG. 3, and more specifically to the control unit 4,control circuitry 300 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated. The control circuitry 300 is coupled topre-cooling and pre-heating circuitry 302, thermal profile circuitry304, patient profile circuitry 306, time duration circuitry 308, hot andcold indicator circuitry 310, and compression profile circuitry 312. Thecontrol circuitry 300 is further coupled to a memory 314, detectioncircuitry 316, warning circuitry 318, and a backup battery 320. Adisplay 322 is provided for displaying the output of the controlcircuitry 300 and for the input of data to control various therapeuticvalues of the blanket 8. A dual water and gas reservoir 324 having waterand gas reservoir circuitry 326 is further coupled to the controlcircuitry 300. Reservoir circuitry 326 is coupled both to the controlcircuitry 300 and to a plurality of thermal electric coolers 328. Thethermal electric coolers 328 heat and/or cool the heat transfer fluidcontained within the fluid/gas reservoir 324. Coupled to the thermalelectric coolers 328, there is shown a phase plane heat removal system330.

Coupled to the control circuitry 300 is the pre-cooling and pre-heatingcircuitry 302 which heats and/or cools the temperature of the heattransfer fluid prior to the application of the blanket 8 to the patient.Thermal profile circuitry 304, patient profile circuitry 306, andcompression profile circuitry 312 allow the user of the patient therapysystem 2 to apply compression and/or thermal therapy to a patientaccording to preset values which depend on the type of injury andphysical attributes of the patient. Exemplary attributes of the patient,thermal, and/or compression profiles are illustrated in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Patient Record Bytes Type RTC Year 1 character RTC Month 1character RTC Day 1 character RTC Hour 1 character RTC Minute 1character Coolant Set Temp 2 signed integer Coolant Temp 2 signedinteger Compression Set 1 unsigned character Compression Reading 2unsigned integer Therapy Mode 1 bit Compression Switch Status 2 bitsControl Mode 3 bits Alarms 1 bit

As illustrated in Table 1, a record of the actual use of the temperaturetherapy blanket may be recorded by the Year, Month, Day, Hour, andMinute attributes. The temperature therapy settings and compressionsettings may also be stored via the Coolant Set Temp and Compression Setattributes. The actual temperature and compression may be stored via theCoolant Temp and Compression Reading attributes. The particular therapymode chosen is assigned to the Therapy Mode attribute. For example, thepatient may wish to apply cooling therapy without compression, heattherapy without compression, contrast therapy without compression,cooling therapy with compression, heat therapy with compression,contrast therapy with compression, or compression without temperaturetherapy. The profiles and usage data may also be sent to a computer orprinted for medical records, etc.

The detection circuitry 316 is coupled to the control circuitry 300 andto the connector 10 of FIG. 1 to alert the user of whether the connector10 is properly or improperly connected to the blanket 8. A disconnectsignal may be sent to the control circuitry 300 to warn the user of aproblem with the connector 10. The battery backup 320 supplies power tothe control unit 4 during periods when an AC current is not available.The control circuitry 300 may also forward data related to specifics ofthe temperature and compression therapy to the display 322. The display322 may display indicators related to the data from the controlcircuitry 300 and/or other portions of the system 2.

The control circuitry 300, in conjunction with the memory 314, thermalprofile circuitry 304, patient profile circuitry 306, time durationcircuitry 308, and compression profile circuitry 312 provides coolingand heating therapy with a programmable set point between 37 and 66° F.and 90 and 105° F. The control circuitry 300 allows for contrast therapyprogrammable for alternating between cooling for a predetermined timeinterval and heating for a predetermined time interval, or constanttherapy for only heating or only cooling for a predetermined timeinterval. The control circuitry 300 also allows for compression therapyseparate from, or in conjunction with, the contrast or constant thermaltherapy. Compression therapy enhances thermal contact for more efficientthermal transfer with the tissue under therapy. The compression therapymay also provide pulse compression by alternating between a plurality ofchosen pressure levels to gently, but firmly pulse massage the tissue.Compression therapy that sequentially compresses a portion of thepatient under therapy may also be initiated from the control circuitry300. Further, the control circuitry 300, in conjunction with the memory314, may provide optional electronic recording of therapy patientidentification and chosen thermal, contrast, constant, compression,and/or oxygen treatment levels applied with time indicators and durationindicators of each treatment mode as noted above with respect toTable 1. The patient may optionally readout, print, and/orelectronically retain the therapy patient record within the memory 50.Moreover, the control circuitry 300 may provide a bio-impedancemeasurement to estimate the total body water content to assess hydrationconditions. Also, an exemplary embodiment of the patient therapy system2 of FIG. 1 may provide electronic muscle stimulation to acceleratereturn of muscle condition to normal.

Referring now to FIG. 4A, there is shown a diagrammatic schematic of oneembodiment of an improved thermoelectric device assembly in accordancewith one embodiment of the principles of the present invention. The TECof this particular embodiment incorporates a layer of gold thatinterfaces with the ceramic. This particular interface affords thenecessary strength to connect the ceramic directly to the billets for ahigh thermal contrast modality in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent invention. With such a design, a much higher thermal contrastmodality and thermal cycle capability is achieved. Moreover, it has beensuggested by Applicants herein that with such an assembly, approximately100,000 heating and cooling cycles may be possible in the high thermalcontrast modality. The present embodiment affords an arrangement of theappropriate TEC interface materials with the heat exchanger to optimizethe ability to accept high thermal contrast through thousands of cyclesmanifesting extreme expansion and contraction as is inherent in highcontrast thermal systems. The utilization of thermal grease between theTEC and the heat sink and manifold is currently contemplated. It hasfurther been recognized that the layer of gold appears to reduce thestress on the solder joints within the TEC. A more robust connection isthus afforded between the ceramic and the other elements inside the TEC.It has further been recognized that the use of thermal grease instead ofplastics and the like is preferable in at least one embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring now to FIG. 4B, a diagrammatic schematic illustrates thermalcycling with the TEC capable of withstanding the stresses of thermalcycling. The TEC is capable of withstanding the stresses of thermalcycling during normal operation at the following conditions: 150 PSIloading, ΔT in the cooling mode, cool side=15° C.; hot side=60° C. Withsuch an embodiment, the following performance matrix may be realized:Thermal characteristics: Q_(max)≧52 Watts at 25° C.

Referring now to FIG. 4C, physical characteristics of one embodiment ofthe present invention are illustrated. The leads and perimeter of theTEC must be sealed with a sealant that will meet the following: AC Hipotof 1700 VAC for 1 minute with the TEC's sandwiched between two groundplanes and a leakage requirement of ≦10 mA at 1700 VAC. It is preferablefor the sealants used for the leads and the perimeter to be of similarmaterials.

Referring now to FIG. 5A, there is shown the connector 10 of FIG. 1connected to the therapy blanket 8. A plurality of connections 15 extendthroughout the interior of the fluid bladder of blanket 8 so as to avoidall concentration of fluid in one portion of the therapy blanket 8.Layer 18 is a layer of a gas/fluid impermeable material and layer 20 isa second layer of gas/fluid impermeable material. A first bladder,defined by layers 18 and 20, contains heat transfer fluid from thewater/gas reservoir 324 (via tubes 500 and 502) while the secondbladder, which is defined by layers 20 and 16, receives gas (via tube504). A single connection 15 is formed by sealing layers 18 and 20 oneto another. Layers 16, 18, and 20 are sealed one to another along theirperiphery.

In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, gas permeable layer 28 iscoupled beneath the gas bladder and fluid bladder of FIG. 5A. Layer 28may be sealed contiguous with the periphery of the gas bladder and fluidbladder of FIG. 5A. A tube 26 injects oxygen into the gas permeablelayer 28 for diffusion along a surface of the patient via a series ofdiffusion holes 30 formed in layer 28. One method of providing oxygen toan injured portion of a patient is described in the aforementioned U.S.Pat. No. 5,989,285 to DeVilbiss et al.

Referring now to FIG. 5C, a temperature therapy blanket 8 having apre-selected shape and compression capabilities is illustrated. Theunderside of the blanket 8 (shown) is placed directly against a portionof the patient. The fluid bladder is thus adjacent the patient. Heattransfer fluid flows into the blanket 8 from inlet hose 500 and heattransfer fluid flows out of the blanket via outlet hose 502. A gas, forcompression, flows into the blanket 8 from air inlet hose 504. The airinlet hose 504 may also be utilized to provide oxygen for oxygenationpurposes. Alternatively, oxygenation gas may be provided by a separatehose. Heat transfer fluid travels through the inlet hose 500, throughfluid inlet port 506, and into the blanket 8. The connections 15 allowthe heat transfer fluid to evenly disperse throughout the fluid bladder.Partitions 508 a, 508 b control the flow of heat transfer fluidthroughout the fluid bladder. Partition 508 a prevents heat transferfluid from entering the blanket 8 at the inlet port 506 and immediatelyexiting the blanket via outlet port 510. Partition 508 a forces the heattransfer fluid to travel towards the end of the blanket 8 remote fromthe inlet port 506. Partition 508 b, in conjunction with connections 15,causes the heat transfer fluid to travel across the width of the blanket8. The edges of the fluid bladder are joined to the edges of the airbladder at seal 512. The heat transfer fluid may then exit the blanket 8at the outlet port 510. The travel of the heat transfer fluid isindicated by arrows in FIGS. 5C and 5D.

Referring now to FIG. 5D, the blanket 8 is turned over relative to FIG.5C and a cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 5C is illustrated.As described above, the fluid bladder 514 (disposed against the patient)and air bladder 516 are joined together at seal 512. Connections 15 jointhe upper layer and lower layer of the fluid bladder 514 together. Thepartition 508 a segregates the heat transfer fluid from the inlet port506, illustrated by the downward arrows, from the heat transfer fluidflowing to the outlet port, illustrated by the upward arrows. The airbladder 516 is oriented over the fluid bladder 514 to press the fluidbladder 514 against a portion of the patient (not shown in this view).

Referring now to FIG. 6A, a sequential compression blanket 8 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.The sequential compression blanket 8 may also include temperaturetherapy as illustrated above, or the sequential compression blanket 8may be a stand alone blanket that may be applied directly to a surfaceof a patient or over a temperature therapy blanket. The sequentialcompression blanket 8 includes a plurality of air chambers 602 withinlet lines 604 for each air chamber 602. In the preferred embodiment,the blanket 8 includes four to seven air chambers 602, although more orfewer air chambers 602 may be utilized in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. Tubing 606 connects the inlet lines 604 to avalve assembly 608 that is separate from both the blanket 8 and thecontrol unit 4. Additional tubing 610 connects the valve assembly 608 tothe control unit 4. The valve assembly 608 operates to control the flowof air to each chamber 602 via valves (not shown) that allow air flow tothe tubing 606 for each air chamber 602. The valve assembly 608 mayoperate to provide sequential compression in a first direction by firstfilling and releasing air chamber 602 a, next filling and releasing airchamber 602 b, and lastly filling and releasing air chamber 602 c. Thevalve assembly 608 may operate to provide sequential compression in theopposite direction by first filling and releasing air chamber 604 c,next filling and releasing air chamber 604 b, and lastly filling andreleasing air chamber 604 a. Alternatively, the valve assembly 608 mayprovide pulsing compression by substantially simultaneously filling theair chambers 602 and, a predetermined time interval later, releasing theair chambers 602. Although the above embodiment illustrates specificsequential and pulsing compression techniques, it will be understood byone skilled in the art that numerous compression techniques may beutilized without departing from aspects of the present invention. Forexample, multiple air chambers 602 may be filled simultaneously orcompression could be applied by first filling air chamber 602 a, nextfilling air chamber 602 b, lastly filling air chamber 602 c, andreleasing the air chambers 602 substantially simultaneously. In variousembodiments, the air chambers 602 are sequenced to provide movementperipherally toward the heart.

The valve assembly 608 receives sequencing instructions from anelectrical line 612 that connects to the control unit 4. The electricalline 612 may also provide for communication of other data, such assensor data or oxygenation data, between the blanket 8 and the controlunit 4. For example, the blanket 8 may include temperature sensors todetermine the temperature of the heat transfer fluid within the blanket8. The sensor data is then transmitted to the control unit 4, via theelectrical line 612, so that the control unit 4 may adjust the coolingor heating of the heat transfer fluid as necessary.

Referring now to FIG. 6B, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated. This embodiment includes a valve assembly 608that is internal to the sequential compression blanket 8 and four airchambers 602 within the sequential compression blanket 8, although theamount of air chambers may vary from blanket to blanket. The valveassembly 608 functions in a manner similar to the valve assembly 608 ofFIG. 6A except that an additional valve is provided for the fourth airchamber 602 d and tubing 606 d. The valve assembly 608 and tubing 606are internal to the sequential compression blanket 8. Therefore, theonly item visible to a patient is the tubing 610 that exits thesequential compression blanket 8 and connects to the control unit 4.Although the sequential compression blanket 8 has been illustrated as asubstantially rectangular blanket, it will be understood by one skilledin the art that the blanket 8 may be formed in any shape to conform toany portion of a patient's body, such as a shoulder, wrist, foot, neck,back, etc.

Referring now to FIGS. 6C-6D, alternate embodiments of the sequentialcompression blanket 8 is illustrated. The blanket as shown also includesa fluid bladder with an inlet fluid tube 614 and outlet fluid tube 616.The compression functions similarly to that described in FIGS. 6A and 6Bexcept that the compression bladder presses the fluid bladder onto aportion of the patient. The fluid bladder may be similar to thatillustrated in FIGS. 5A-5D, although other configurations of fluidbladders may be utilized in conjunction with the compression blanket ofembodiments of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A-7I, various configurations of the blanket 8adaptable to various portions of a patient body are illustrated.Although the blankets 8 are illustrated with a specific configuration oftubing, connectors, fasteners, etc., it will be understood by oneskilled in the art that other configurations may be utilized inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a method of creating and packaging a heattransfer fluid according to an embodiment of the present invention isillustrated. Although the heat transfer fluid described below may beutilized with the present invention, other heat transfer fluids may alsobe utilized in conjunction with the system of the present invention. Inthe preferred embodiment, the heat transfer fluid incorporates waterwith propylene glycol. A 15% solution of propylene glycol with distilledwater is suggested to reduce the freezing set point within the heattransfer fluid and to eliminate the accumulation of bacteria. At step800, distilled water is provided. At step 802, monopropylene glycol isprovided and is mixed with the water at step 804. The distilled waterand monopropylene glycol may be mixed in a ratio of about 15%monopropylene glycol and 85% distilled water. The mixture is packaged atstep 806 and installed at step 808.

The previous description is of a preferred embodiment for implementingthe invention, and the scope of the invention should not necessarily belimited by this description. The scope of the present invention isinstead defined by the following claims.

1. A method for contiguously providing compression therapy and thermaltherapy to a patient, the method comprising: providing a blanket havinga fluid bladder and a plurality of air chambers; coupling a valveassembly coupled to each air chamber of the plurality of air chambers;securing the blanket around an appendage of a patient such that thefluid bladder is in thermal contact with the appendage and the pluralityof air chambers are disposed outwardly of the fluid bladder relative tothe appendage; compressing the fluid bladder against the appendage at afirst pressure when the plurality of air chambers are deflated;thermally conditioning a heat-transfer fluid to a predeterminedtemperature using one or more thermoelectric coolers; flowing theheat-transfer fluid through the fluid bladder to provide thermal therapyto the patient; and selectively inflating and deflating, via the valveassembly, each of the plurality of air chambers in a predeterminedpattern to compress selective portions of the fluid bladder against theappendage at a second pressure greater than the first pressure while thethermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid is flowed therethrough.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, and further comprising repeating the selectivelyinflating and deflating to provide sequenced compression to the patient.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectively inflating anddeflating comprises providing compressed gas to the plurality of airchambers in a predetermined pattern.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe selectively inflating and deflating comprises providing compressedgas to a first air chamber for a first predetermined time period beforeproviding the compressed gas to a second air chamber for a secondpredetermined time period.
 5. The method of claim 4, comprisingproviding the compressed gas to a third air chamber for a thirdpredetermined time period after providing the compressed gas to thesecond air chamber for the second predetermined time period.
 6. Themethod of claim 4, comprising providing the compressed gas to the firstair chamber after providing the compressed gas to the third air chamber.7. The method of claim 4, comprising releasing the compressed gas fromthe first air chamber before providing the compressed gas to the secondair chamber.
 8. The method of claim 4, comprising releasing thecompressed gas from the first air chamber after providing the compressedgas to the second air chamber.
 9. The method of claim 1, comprisingtransmitting sequencing instructions to the valve assembly from acontrol unit.
 10. The method of claim 1, comprising transmitting thesequencing instructions via an electrical line.
 11. The method of claim1, wherein the sequencing instructions include at least one oftemperature data and oxygenation data.
 12. The method of claim 1,comprising providing partitions with the fluid bladder for distributingthe heat-transfer fluid therethrough.
 13. The method of claim 1,comprising providing the valve assembly internally with the blanket. 14.The method of claim 1, comprising providing the valve assemblyexternally of the blanket.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein theheat-transfer fluid comprises 15% monopropylene glycol.